Are You Still Waiting? by Susan Tuttle

The wait.

It’s the hardest part of this writing game. Putting words on paper for all of us is fun (writer’s block notwithstanding), but once all those words are down, we wait.

For an agent.

For a contract.

For those books to show up on our doorstep.

For reviews—the good ones.

For everything we just poured ourselves into to be noticed by someone…anyone.

We don’t pour those words onto a page to sit in a drawer and never be seen—unless of course they are our rough drafts. We write because we feel a burning need to tell a story that God has placed on our hearts, which means he must desire for someone to hear that story. And we truly believe he’ll share that story with the perfect audience he has for it.

But then we wait. For weeks. Months. Sometimes for years. And we start to wonder when God will open that door.

See, sometimes our crisis of faith isn’t if God can do what he says he can do, it’s when will he do it? We know he’s the same God who does the impossible. We believe in a God who can raise the dead, surely he can handle putting our books into the right hands. But if he’s capable, why isn’t anything happening? With that one question, or faith begins to ebb.

Friend, we need to remember that our God sees time so differently than we do. He transcends it He doesn’t play by the rules of time—he created them. And he created us, with a purpose, plan, and eternal calendar that has our names written across it. We feel like we’ve been waiting forever, but he designed forever. With his leading we will not arrive one minute earlier—or later—to our destinations than needed. His when is perfect, even if it’s carving out our patience along the way.

I love Isaiah 60:22. “I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” If you’re wondering about his when today, keep this verse close to your heart and running through your mind. If God has called you to this writing life, he has a time appointed for you. It will happen, and it will be perfect timing, because God’s when always is.

****

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

It’s All On Me, Right?

Writers’ conferences can be expensive. Hey everyone, Annette here. This week many of our dear SW reader-writers are attending American Christian Fiction Writers’ annual conference. (www.acfw.com) You’ve got appointments set up, opportunities all around you. You’ve prayed and planned, brainstormed and penned, organized and traveled, sacrificed and invested. Now, you’re here! You want to “get your money’s worth” and take advantage of every possibility before you—make the right connections, exude the right impression, say the right words. Seize the day. 

After all, it’s all on you.

Right?

For years, you’ve had books burning inside you, waiting to come out. You’ve got a thriving imagination full of characters, plot gems, twists, ideas swirling in creative juices. You love words and the rhythm of good prose. You love reading. 

Question: who gave you talent? 

Remember that stirring in your heart at some point, that urge to write? What was the catalyst? There was a time you knew you were supposed to somehow begin to put words down. You studied the craft of writing, connected with others on a similar journey. You paired strong characters with intriguing plots and offered your chapters for critique. 

Question: who called you to write? 

Somewhere during your life, you’ve had to find time to write. Late hours, early hours, leftover hours after a busy day. You prioritized and sacrificed and carved out productive minutes. 

Question: who created and manages time and seasons?

While you’re there at the writers’ conference, remember God gave you the talent, God called you to write for His glory, and God is sovereign. We can’t “make something happen” just by sheer will. If we try to sidestep what God is doing, we may find ourselves unprepared and failing. But if we wait for the correct time—God’s timing—and rest in Him, consider the benefits:

Peace—we no longer have to manufacture something. We have God’s assurance. He who called you will also make a way. 

Rest—the burden to open doors is not on us. God is our Father who opens doors for us. We don’t have to strive. When it’s time, the right door will open. And by then, God will have prepared us.

Joy—we’ve demanded a lot of ourselves, even the impossible. But when we hand our burden to the Lord, He gives us joy in its place. 

Freedom—sure, we continue the writerly disciplines of learning and growing in the craft. We remain good stewards of the gift and calling. But once we release the burden, we’re free to create and grow, because we no longer have to strive. We’re free to do our part—seek God first and let Him take care of the rest. 

When you sit down with editors and agents, know they’re people just like you. They’re professionals, just like you. But keep this truth in mind: they do not dictate your future in writing. They may become a tool in God’s hand, but God is the one who determines where your writing goes from here. Leave that with Him.

Aren't you glad it's not all on you?



Photo credits:

"Stairs" image by Adam Hickmott / freedigitalphotos.net 
"Door handle" image courtesy of Nattavut / freedigitalphotos.net
"Job interview" (meeting) photo courtesy of Ambro / freedigitalphotos.net